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2018 capture of Brunanter soldiers
The 2018 capture of Brunanter soldiers in Phaluhm Phoueck is the capture of two Brunanter soldiers in Phaluhm Phoueck within the greater Phaluhm Muslim Crisis. Both soldiers were taken on 12 July 2018, confirmed by the government on 16 July. Background Brunant has been involved in Operation Martel, their contribution to the Multinational Force Phaluhm Phoueck since late May 2016. Capture and identities Two Brunanter soldiers, Sergeant Diana Coy and Corporal James Grantham were on patrol near the town of Phasu when their vehicle was ambushed on 12 July 2018. The military or government did not initially confirm the soldiers as hostages, instead deeming them missing.www.gr.go.bt, 14 July 2018 While unnamed, they were confirmed as members of the 30th Infantry Company (Grantham) and 26th Support Company (Coy). On 15 July, The Noble City Times in Lovia published an article in which social media and online sources revealed the identity of Sergt. Coy, who holds Lovian on top of her Brunanter citizenship. She has a mother in Lovia, as well as other relatives.The Noble City Times: Lovian-Brunanter one of two captured soldiers, 15 July 2018 On 16 July, the identities of both soldiers were confirmed, and a Cape Times report stated that a video surfaced on the internet and several media sources showing the two soldiers. Cape Times: Identities of captured soldiers revealed, 16 July 2018 Brief appearances by masked men detailed a number of demands for their release, including "the withdrawal of all foreign troops, the immediate end to the war by the Phaluhm government, and release of every prisoner." According to various news sources, these are the first soldiers to be captured by an enemy force since 2018. Negotiations Military and government negotiators have indirectly communicated for the release of the two soldiers. The Phaluhm Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has announced that they are working on an agreement between the two parties. The Brunanter government said it was looking at options to secure their release. Prime Minister Pieter Van Buskirk engaged in several phone calls with Phaluhm Prime Minister Hortilaz Bisataya. A spokesperson later said the situation may be getting precarious for the soldiers. On 23 June it was announced by the Minister of Defense that troops had been used in an attempt to locate the two soldiers. Rescue operation The Department of Defense issued a press release on 24 June stating that Brunanter soldiers were used to rescue Sergt. Coy and Corpl. Grantham. They gave few details, saying more information would be released. Corpl. Grantham was announced as having died from wounds on 28 July. On 30 July it was announced that soldiers of the 30th Infantry Company (Jaegers) had been used in two simultaneous operations in suspected houses on 22 June. One had held a small weapons cache, though the other contained both the soldiers. They announced three insurgents had died, at least four were injured, though regretted the loss of Corpl Grantham, likely short at by one of his captors as the operations were undertaken. Further announcements by the Royal Guard states that their analysis puts Grantham's cause of death from an insurgent's weapon. Aftermath A military investigation was announced by General Gabriel Styler, who stated to media he approved the operation due to political need for a response and did not expressly endorse it. He said that more time to train in such an operation was key. Criticism was placed on some figures in the military, including Cdt. Harrington of the 30th Infantry, Major Hendrik Campen (Jaegers), who was likely involved in much of the planning and even Gen Styler, for approving a plan he did not entirely agree with. Much blame was put in the media to politicians, especially Defense minister Eric Peitersson and Prime Minister Pieter Van Buskirk for not continuing negotiations and for likely being behind an operation to improve the government's image and difficult position. In government session following the raid, Christian Democratic Union president Adrian Vandreck demanded why the specialized Amphibious Tactical Forces, trained in hostage-taking, was not used, or why coalition special forces units already in the country could be used. A Better Brunant leader Minister Avaline Porter criticized the raid, showing displeasure at a "military over political" solution and stating she was not informed of the raid until it had "likely concluded", unlike other government ministers. The Prime Minister countered that the situation at the time was "very serious" and that the soldiers were "indeed at risk of being killed at any moment". On 20 August he announced before a special session of congress that there were many factors in why the operation was not a "complete success" and mentioned issues with prior reconnaissance, the presence of further insurgent troops than predicted. He also hinted that it was not clear if Cpl Grantham's wounds were most definitely from an insurgent's actions. CDU politician Michael Mortensen heavily criticized the Prime Minister, for both an excessively long investigation which had only drawn more blanks and his inability to be clear and direct about it and the operation. Further fallout occurred when it appeared that his government might have been been involved with or party to secret discussons on the removal of the then-Prime Minister of Phaluhm Phoueck. On 4 September several SLP members made it clear they could no longer support the government, and it became possible that the whole party could in turn oppose it. P70-Links announced they would concur with the SLP, and leader Edward Heyneman demanded an immediate withdrawal of soldiers from the country to end an "expensive war" and "prevent more deaths". Final report An independent commission established my Minister Peitersson in October 2018 began investigating the incident of 23 June. The findings of the group, published on 15 January 2019 determined that the rescue operation could have been much better planned. No blame was laid but the panel stated that "less political interference" could have allowed for a better-planned mission. They determined that the death of Corpl Grantham was certainly at the hands of his captors, as an analysis of the rounds at the safe house and his wounds were not likely to have come from Brunanter weapons (a friendly-fire incident). References Category:Phaluhm Phoueck Category:Military operations